Objective:To study the beneficial effects of apple as an adjuvant on liver fibrosis in rats and to explore its potential mechanisms.Methods: Forty-two SD rats were divided into the normal(n=10)

fibrosis model control(n=8)

Danshao Huaxian(DHC)(n=8)

DHC plus Apple(n=8) and model(n=8) groups.Liver fibrosis model was induced by complex etiological factors

including CCl4

alcohol(every other day)and high lipid

low protein diets for eight weeks.After the establishment of liver fibrosis

model rats were treated with DHC and DHC plus Apple.The degree of liver fibrosis was examined under microscope.the liver index.Results: ALT and AST were significantly decreased in DHC plus Apple group(P<0.01

P<0.01

P<0.01).GSH of liver homogenate in DHC plus Apple group was signifi-cantly higher and MDA was lower than those in the DHC and model control groups(P<0.05).Hepatic mRNA expression of TGF-β1 was significantly decreased(P<0.05)

while the expre-ssions of MMP-2 Nrf-2 and HO-1 were significantly increased compared to model control

DHC and Apple alone groups(P<0.05).Conclusion: Apple has beneficial effects as an adjuvant in the treatment of liver fibrosis when used together with DHC in rats.The mechanisms of apple as an adjuvant in reversing the rats liver fibrosis seems to up modulate the expression of Nrf-2 while promote the HO-1 expression and amplify anti-oxidize reaction.These effects appear to be related to promoting the degradation of extracellular base by induction of MMP

and by suppression of TGF-β1 expression.